The dental hygienist schools in California are considered some of the best hygienist schools in the world as they have a history of producing some of the finest professionals in the field.
While those who are students of the various dental hygienist schools in California are fully aware of this, it is not obvious to many others, that a dental hygienist is classified as a licensed dentist, on the contrary, this is because they perform their duties independently of them and require their supervision. It is important to note that both a dental hygienist and a licensed dentist play a pivotal role in the health and treatment of dental ailments.
One of the roles which can be associated with a dental hygienist is the preparation of the teeth such as cleaning and setting of dental equipment before the patient is due to be seen by the dentist. Like most medical professions, both the dental hygienist and the licensed dentists are registered licensed dental professionals that are required to have successfully excelled in stringent academic work.
Such stringent academic work also produces some of the finest nurses through the accelerated nursing programs found in Texas. The medical profession is considered a heroic field and care is taken to ensure that those who are practicing are actually licensed and registered professionals in the various fields they operate under.
To this end, the accelerated nursing programs of Virginia take their respective students through the rigorous course work and training process to fine-tune those who enroll in it and at the same time weed out those who unfortunately do not possess the affinity for the field.
To detour a little, for those who are wondering where they can fulfill their life goal of being a medical doctor, well the medical schools that are found in New York are one fine place to get the training you desire. Also, for students and medical professionals, there are great medical books that can be downloaded for free all thanks to the miracle that is the internet.
Requirements for Dental Hygienist Schools in California
For students wishing to enroll in any of the dental hygienist schools in California, the following requirements must be met before your applications can be considered.
- Graduation from a board-approved and recognized Dental Hygiene school is required.
- Complete the WREB dental hygiene clinical assessment successfully.
- Complete authorized courses in local anesthesia, soft tissue curettage, and nitrous oxide delivery.
- Pass the National written test.
The average cost of dental hygienist schools in California
There are three educational tracks to becoming a dental hygienist in the Golden State. You can get an associate degree at either a community college or a technical college; you’ll be able to finish your degree in 20 to 30 months, and you’ll spend $5,310 – $58,970 doing so.
An increasing number of four-year colleges and universities are also offering dental hygiene training; if you’re a Cal state resident and you go to a state-funded school, your tuition may be as low as $24,600 while training through a private university may cost you as much as $107,850.
Finally, if you’d like to do research or teach other aspiring dental hygienists, you may want to get a master’s degree. A master’s degree will take between one and two years to complete, and you will end up spending between $32,060 and $99,020.
10 Best Dental Hygienist Schools in California
1. University of Southern California
The University of Southern California’s School of Dentistry has been providing high-quality dentistry education for almost 80 years. It has a distinguished faculty of professionals, authors, and editors who have made significant contributions to the area of dental science. Furthermore, as a dental hygiene student at a big dental school, you will have several opportunities to learn from students and instructors from various dental disciplines.
USC is one of the few dental schools in the US that offers both a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in dental hygiene.
Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene: With this bachelor’s degree, you will be well-prepared to begin your career as a dental hygienist at the entry-level. You must get 76 credits in dental hygiene and 12 credits in general education. The comprehensive education is completed over five trimesters and includes intensive clinical training to help you obtain real-world experience.
Master of Science in Dental Hygiene: If you want to advance your dental hygiene education, this program may be finished in 16 months of full-time study. If you work, you can also choose a part-time schedule.
Through class work, case studies, and oral presentations, you will build knowledge in this dentistry discipline. You can also pursue a job in research and education after completing your training.
2. University of the Pacific
With its state-of-the-art facilities, a diversity of dentistry programs, an on-campus dental clinic, and a teaching strategy that emphasizes student-faculty and community engagement, the University of the Pacific’s San Francisco campus provides an enriching learning environment. Furthermore, its ideal location allows students to travel without difficulty.
This three-year bachelor’s degree at UOP equips students with a wide curriculum that includes liberal arts components in the first half of the program before transitioning to dental hygiene coursework in the second half.
This enables students to acquire problem-solving abilities, adapt to changes in the dentistry sector, and function effectively as members of a dental team. Because the college has an extremely stringent admission process, it is advised that you graduate high school with at least a 2.7 GPA and study biology, chemistry, and arithmetic.
3. West Coast University
West Coast University offers a plethora of learning possibilities to dental hygiene students, assuring professional and personal development. Students are well prepared for this tough yet rewarding allied dentistry job thanks to an innovative simulation lab, the ability to serve a broad community at its free dental clinic, and a slew of career help resources.
You may complete your bachelor’s degree in dental hygiene in only 34 months if you choose this accelerated dental hygiene program in California, which is faster than most bachelor’s programs offered at other universities.
The program covers a wide curriculum that includes general education and dental hygiene classes. While general education classes can be completed online, dental hygiene courses are often only available on-campus.
By completing the courses, you will have the information and abilities needed to perform tasks as a clinician, dental hygiene instructor, researcher, administration, and management.
4. San Joaquin Valley College
San Joaquin Valley College in California has two fully equipped campuses to pick from for aspiring dental hygiene students. Each has its own dental clinic, small-sized classrooms, and a reputation for high licensing exam pass rates.
The institution provides an associate degree that may be completed in 16 months to help you become a useful part of a dental team quickly. You will master important technical skills such as using charting software, intra-oral cameras to reveal the interior of a patient’s mouth, x-ray procedures, installing dental and sealants, and fluoride, and conducting advanced scaling and root planning methods with various devices.
Extensive clinical sessions are also included in the curriculum each term, beginning with 8 hours per week during the first two terms and increasing to 12 to 16 hours per week in terms three and four. The curriculum is demanding, and it is strongly advised that you do not work while enrolled.
5. Foothill College
Foothill College has been educating dental hygiene students since 1964. To satisfy the academic demands of dental hygiene students, it provides two active bachelor’s programs.
Entry-level Bachelor of Science Degree in Dental Hygiene: In the first two years, students complete general education, science, and social science courses. Following that, you must apply to the dental hygiene program and, if approved, complete 107 credits in core dental hygiene and upper division general education courses. This will need another two years of study, at which time the curriculum will include courses in dental radiography, oral anatomy, dental materials, periodontics, dental health education, and ethics and law as they apply to dental offices.
AS to BS-DH Program: This is a bridge program for students who have already finished an Associate degree in Dental Hygiene and want to enhance their knowledge base and employment options. To graduate, you must complete eight courses, all of which are available online. This is ideal for a dental hygienist who does not want to put present work obligations on wait while pursuing his bachelor’s degree.
6. Diablo Valley College
Diablo Valley College is recognized for its cheap and job-ready education, which helps dental hygiene students achieve their professional goals. Externship possibilities are available at the Native American Health Clinic and La Clinica, two notable community health institutions in the region, with an emphasis on experiential learning.
This dental hygiene school in California provides a two-year associate degree program. You will be required to attend classes throughout the day as part of the full-time program. After completing the training, which includes both general and core courses, you will be eligible to sit for the National and Regional Dental Hygiene Board tests and work in dental offices, specialized clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, and public health clinics. The college’s admission criterion is very selective, so make sure you pass the prerequisite curriculum in anatomy, physiology, microbiology, algebra, and nutrition with a minimum GPA of 3.0.
For students interested in pursuing this degree, the institution suggests taking algebra, biology, chemistry, and physiology as high school electives.
7. Santa Rosa Junior College
A dental hygiene graduate from Santa Rosa Junior College is prepared to work as an effective part of a dental team as a critical thinker, problem solver, and evidence-based decision maker. Since the program’s inception in 1999, alumni have succeeded in the licensing test, with a 100% pass record.
This Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene is completed in five semesters of full-time study.
The rigorous education prepares you for the workforce by providing professional skills and information in the classroom, lab sessions, and hands-on experience at the college’s dental clinic and other community settings.
Before beginning the dental hygiene curriculum, the institution recommends that you complete the general education and prerequisite courses.
This better prepares you for the rigorous schedule required to finish the core program.
8. Taft College
Taft College’s dedication to teaching dental hygiene students is evident in the career preparation alumni have displayed in various jobs in the dentistry sector.
Taft University provides a two-year associate degree in dental hygiene. This four-semester program provides consecutive courses that build on each other. You develop knowledge in patient evaluation, patient monitoring, record-keeping, evaluating and planning patient dental hygiene plans, dental hygiene intervention, and ethics and legislation necessary to your dental hygiene profession. By the conclusion of the final semester, you will be ready to take national and state licensing exams and begin working in private and community dental clinics. Some graduates move on to careers in research and education.
9. Concorde Career College
Concorde Career College provides the dental hygiene program at three campuses around the state, each having labs, resource centers, and a dental clinic.
To become a dental hygienist in California, choose the college’s 111.5 credit hour associate program. This 17-month program, divided into nine semesters, will provide you with job-ready skills and knowledge in areas like as extra-oral and intraoral exams, periodontal and dental exams, patient evaluation, and vital sign checks. Practical training is also included in the curriculum, primarily in the college’s dentistry clinic, where students give supervised patient treatment to a broad patient group.
10. Southwestern College
Southwestern College’s inclusion and diversity policy educate dental hygiene students to treat varied patient group competently. Students attain their academic objectives with the help of experienced and motivated staff.
SWC’s dental hygiene program is an associate degree program that may be completed in two years. It is given in the fall of each year, with classroom clinical sessions held at the National City Higher Education Center. The intensive program necessitates a weekly time commitment of 60 to 65 hours. Courses are taken in order since each one builds on the preceding one.
Clinical concepts, dental radiography, oral anatomy and physiology, periodontics, pain control, dental pharmacology, dental materials, community health, and ethics and legislation pertinent to the dental profession are among the 53 credits in the fundamental dental hygiene program. Your clinical training will take place in the National City Dental Hygiene Clinic, a teaching facility that facilitates student learning.
Conclusion
The dental hygienist schools in California have a world-renowned attribute of making their students into some of the finest professionals in the world.
Dental Hygienist Schools in California—FAQs
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